Desert Palm UCC hosted a Tempe teen's eighth-grade promotion after he spent nearly three weeks in ICE custody. U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton organized a special ceremony for Dilan Paredes, 14, weeks after Dilan and his mother, Margoth Paredes, spent 20 days in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. Dilan missed his school's promotion ceremony, but the event at the church included remarks from several speakers, including Tempe Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent Michael Minghine, who formally presented Dilan with his promotion certificate. The family will remain in Arizona while they appeal their immigration case.
The Church of the Palms UCC will offer W.I.S.E. (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaging) Psychological First Aid Training on Tuesday, July 21 at 11:00 am. Rev. Dr. Phil Ladd, both an ordained minister and a licensed psychotherapist, will lead the session. Psychological First Aid is an evidence-based training program that helps participants build the skills and confidence to recognize, understand, and respond to people experiencing mental health challenges or emotional distress. Although Psychological First Aid is not professional counseling or psychological debriefing, it is designed to promote safety, offer emotional support, encourage self-help, and connect individuals with appropriate resources and services. A core framework of Psychological First Aid is “Look, Listen, Link,” which teaches responders to observe carefully, understand needs, and connect people in distress with appropriate support.
First Congregational Albuquerque UCC holds a “non-event fundraiser.” This one is fun and asks little of you. You don’t have to dress up or give up a night on your calendar. You don’t have to do anything or go anywhere. You just donate while voting for your favorite Broadway musical. Over the next several weeks, the church will show clips to encourage voting. This is their largest fundraiser of the year and they’re hoping to raise more than $10,000!
Encanto Community Church Encanto Community Church will prepare and serve a spaghetti meal for about 100 people at Justa Center on July 15 and August 1. Justa Center is a resource and day center exclusively serving seniors experiencing homelessness. They provide support and services for unhoused people 55 years of age and older, including meals, benefits assistance, help finding permanent housing, and more.
From The Love of Children Team: Read the July Love of Children newsletter from Rev. Trayce Potter. Thank you for all the work, care, and dedication you pour into your congregations. We are so grateful for each of you and the ways you continue to invest in children and families.
Poll Chaplain/Peacekeeper Training
Monday, July 13, 4:00 - 5:30 MST via Zoom
Faiths United to Save Democracy (FUSD) believes that everyone is created in the image of God and deserves to vote in free, fair, and safe elections. With violence threatened at the polls in many states during elections, our multi-faith, multi-racial, intergenerational poll chaplains (ordained and lay leaders) and peacekeepers will help provide a calming and moral presence to vulnerable voters, such as the elderly, disabled, youth, and other disenfranchised citizens. Click/tap on the link below for more information and to register for the next training event in July. turnoutsunday.com
Shadow Rock UCC is on their annual church sabbatical! There will not be any worship services from June 29th through July 31st. This has been a 50 year-long tradition at Shadow Rock held in July, the seventh month, as a symbolic reference to the seventh day of rest.
United Church of Angel Fire will celebrate Christmas in July by gathering to enjoy a potluck and make Christmas a little better for families in the area, give to others, and provide extra cheer.
St. Paul UCC's "Beautiful Mind" Sandra Chapin invites the congregation to share scriptures that speak to them to be incorporated into one of the weekly memes she creates for the Gatherings. She will add an illustration to give additional interest for the viewer so we can all enjoy the verses she'll share each Saturday this summer. "I like to think of the memes as mini prompts for out of the box Spirit filled thinking."
